The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has approached the National Industrial Court, seeking an order to commit striking workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to prison for allegedly disobeying a court order.
The court had on January 27, 2026, directed the workers to suspend their strike pending the determination of a suit filed by the FCT Minister. Despite being served with the order, the workers reportedly resumed the industrial action.
In response, Wike obtained Form 48, a legal notice warning of the consequences of disobeying a court order. The document, secured by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Ogwu James Onoja, signals the commencement of contempt proceedings if the workers fail to comply.
Justice Emmanuel Danjuma Sublimi, who issued the original order, ruled that once a labour dispute is referred to the National Industrial Court, all industrial actions must stop, citing Section 18(1)(e) of the Trade Disputes Act. The judge stressed that public interest and industrial peace outweigh the inconvenience of suspending the strike.
While the workers cited a pending appeal as justification, Wike’s legal team argued that no stay of execution was granted, making continued strike action unlawful. The matter has been adjourned to March 25, 2026.
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